Honours shared in absorbing match

Birkirkara 1
Valletta 1

Memories of the many epic battles fought by Valletta and Birkirkara in the not-too-distant past were revived last night as these two heavyweights of Maltese football produced a pulsating match.

Having been knocked off the summit by Marsaxlokk, 4-2 winners over Sliema on Sunday, title favourites Valletta were adamant to regain top spot but first they had to overcome the challenge of a revitalised Birkirkara team.

With their morale sky-high after their 3-1 win over Sliema, Birkirkara lived up to their hard-to-beat tag as they frustrated the Citizens with their diligent approach after taking a deserved lead. But Valletta's second-half onslaught paid off at the death thanks to Sebastian Monesterolo.

Monesterolo's last-gasp goal levelled what had been an absorbing tie but failed to drag City back on top as they are now one point adrift of Marsaxlokk. As for Birkirkara, their bold performance certain lends weight to suggestions that they can pose a threat to the other title aspirants.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit kept faith with the formation that pulverised Hamrun Spartans 4-1, meaning that Ian Zammit, who was returning from a one-match ban, and Stefan Giglio, had to be content with a place on the subs' bench.

Emil Yanchev's red card in Birkirkara's 3-1 victory over Sliema Wanderers left coach John Buttigieg with no choice but to make one change from his last team selection.

Defender Lee Lombardi stepped in for the suspended Yanchev as Buttigieg again deployed his team in a 4-4-1-1 formation. The sight of Davy-Amed Sylla running on to the pitch with the rest of his team-mates ought to have raised the spirits of the Birkirkara fans after injury had forced the Ivory Coast striker to desert proceedings late in the first half of the Stripes' win over Sliema last week.

Birkirkara served early notice of their intent to have a go at Valletta as they seized the lead after barely seven minutes. Their opener came courtesy of Shaun Bajada whose spinning free-kick from a somewhat long distance surprised Andrew Hogg who appeared to dive late as the ball bounced on the turf and soared into the net.

The Stripes forced the early momentum, Alan Tabone having a rising shot deviated for a corner after he had been set up by Sylla.

The scoreboard was marking 13 minutes of the game played when Frank Temile powered forward through the middle but his grounder finished just wide of the far post.

Balance prevailed in the early exchanges although Birkirkara played the more cohesive stuff and looked more confident going forward whereas Valletta laboured to get their passing game up and running.

The Citizens' task might have become more difficult on 26 minutes when another surging Birkirkara attack had the opposing defenders in a tange. Paul Fenech stormed forward through the middle before switching the ball to the influential Bajada whose shot was parried by Hogg. The rebound fell at the feet of Fenech who sent his shot over the bar.

Sensing his team's toils to break free of Birkirkara's harrying shift in midfield and at the back, Zammit instructed his attacking trident of Sebastian Monesterolo, Dyson Falzon and Temile to improve their off-the-ball movement. At times, Gilbert Agius, yesterday assigned an advanced midfield role, also flitted into an attacking position as Temile raced back to chase possession but Birkirkara stood their ground.

At the start of the second half, Zammit hauled off Dyson Falzon for Ian Zammit, a move aimed at giving Valletta's attack more width.

Zammit's first touch came after a few seconds as he retrieved possession in the middle but rifled his shot wide.

Five minutes into the second half, Birkirkara called on Joe Attard to award them a penalty after Hogg made a tackle to dispossess Bajada but the referee saw nothing wrong.

The tit-for-tat nature of a highly-charged encounter continued as Tabone swept past Mifsud but drove the ball over the bar.

At the other end, Mifsud headed over from a Zammit corner before Borg blocked a low effort by the Valletta forward.

Valletta protested for a penalty when Monesterolo got round Ronnie Hartvig who reacted by slightly pulling the Valletta striker. Monesterolo stayed on his feet only to fall after being dispossessed by another Birkirkara player. Attard was unimpressed.

A brilliant move involving Agius, Temile and Monesterolo created an inviting chance for the latter but his diagonal effort from the left side of the penalty area was stopped by Borg.

Seven minutes from time, Borg fumbled a shot by Zammit but much to the Birkirkara goalkeeper's relief, the ball flashed wide of the post.

The Citizens persevered with their all-out attacking approach in the dying moments but Birkirkara remained dangerous on the counter. It had to be some great defending by Scicluna and Mifsud to keep substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza at bay.

From the ensuing move, Valletta managed to grab an equaliser when Stefan Giglio swung over a fine cross from the left and Monesterolo guided the ball past Borg.

Birkirkara: O. Borg-7, T. Paris-6.5, P. Fenech-7, A. Tabone-6.5, M. Anastasi-6, R. Hartvig-7.5, L. Lombardi-6, S. Bajada-7.5 ('62 G. Mallia-6.5), J. Zerafa-6, D.A. Sylla-6.5 ('67 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), A. Ciantar-6.5 ('81 A. Zahra).

Valletta: A. Hogg-5.5, J. Grioli-5 ('73 S. Giglio), K. Scicluna-6.5, J. Mifsud-7.5, S. Bezzina-6, G. Agius-5.5, H. Backhaus-8, D. Camilleri-6.5, D. Falzon-5 ('46 I. Zammit-6.5), F. Temile-6, S. Monesterolo-6.5.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Bajada 7; Monesterolo 90.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Agius; Tabone; Backhaus; Borg; Bezzina.

BoV Player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).